Chicken Kurma - this is a South Indian version of the Mughlai grandeur which once graced the banquet tables of the nobles and the rich. This Chicken Kurma recipe is rich, creamy, cooked extensively with Spices and laced with Curd/Yogurt & ground Coconut Paste.  This Chicken Kurma recipe is quite similar to the Vegetable Kurma recipe.  
     Unlike the rich Shahi Korma, which uses Yogurt, Cream, Nuts & Saffron lavishly, this Chicken Kurma recipe is a simple recipe in terms of ingredients & cooking.  Adapted to suit the South Indian taste buds.  This is one of my favourite and all-time easy recipe.  When I am in a mood of quick & simple cooking, I would surely not be in a mood to go ponder my recipe books for different recipes.  Then obviously this is one recipe which comes to mind - which needs, not much of thinking and preparation according to me.
    As a family norm, I add a few chunks of Potatoes to the Chicken Kurma Recipe. Potatoes pair well with Chicken/Mutton/Beef in this Curry.  If I am pairing this curry with Dosa, my son would always ask me to prepare Kal Dosai or soft White Dosa.  Chicken Kurma tastes great with this combination. This is one curry which pairs well with both Roti & Rice.  A Sunday lunch with Chicken Kurma paired with Rice/Ghee Rice/Peas Pulao, and the leftover Curry can be easily sneaked for Dinner as a side dish for Chapati, Parotta, Idli, Dosa, Uthappam, Idiyappam, Appam, Puttu etc.,


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Cuisine - South Indian
Recipe Type - Curry, Gravy
Course - Side Dish
Spice Level  - Medium
Serves - 3- 4
Author - SM

Preparation Time - 20-30 Minutes
Cooking Time - 30-45 Minutes

HOW TO COOK CHICKEN KURMA

INGREDIENTS :

For Chicken Kurma :

Chicken - 500 Gms
Onion - 1 No.
Curry Leaves - 2 Sprigs
Bay Leaf - 1 No.
Fennel Seeds - 1/2 Tspn
Turmeric - 1/2 Tspn
Red Chilli Powder - 1 Tspn
Coriander Powder - 2 Tspn
Yogurt/Curd - 1 Cup
Salt - To Taste
Oil /Ghee - 2 Tbspn

For Masala Paste :

Onion - 1 No.
Garlic - 6-8 Cloves
Ginger - 1" Piece
Green Chillies - 3-4 Nos.
Tomato - 1 No.
Cloves - 3 Nos.
Cinnamon - 1" Stick
Fennel Seeds - 1 Tspn
Cardamom - 2 Pods

For Coconut Paste :

Coconut -1/2 Cup
Cashew nuts - 10 -12 Nos.
Poppy Seeds(Khus Khus) - 2 Tbspns

To Garnish : 

Coriander Leaves - Few

METHOD :

• Clean, Cut & Wash the Chicken into pieces. 
• Drain the Chicken pieces in a colander.
• Grind the ingredients mentioned under 'For Masala' to a fine paste and keep it aside.
• Soak Poppy Seeds in 1 Tbspn of warm water for about 10-15 minutes and grind it along with grated Coconut and Cashew nuts to a fine paste.
• Heat Ghee/Oil in a Pan, splutter Fennel Seeds and Bay Leaves.  
• Pan sear the Chicken Pieces in Ghee/Oil until the colour changes.
• Sear the Chicken pieces on a low flame.
• Saute Onions and Curry leaves on a low flame until onions turn translucent.
• Pour in the ground Masala Paste and saute it on a low flame until the raw flavour goes.
• Add Turmeric Powder, Red Chilli Powder and Coriander Powder to the above and fry for a while on a low flame until it turns fragrant and oil separates from the mix.
• Pour Curd/Yogurt and mix well.
• Add a dash of Salt and a pinch of Sugar.
• Add enough water, cover and cook until Chicken Pieces are well-cooked.
• Open the lid and give the Kurma a quick stir.
• Pour in the ground Coconut Paste and mix well.
• Allow it to boil on a very low flame until the raw flavour goes, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from fire and garnish it with Coriander Leaves.
• Serve Chicken Kurma hot with any dish of your choice.
• Chicken Kurma goes well with Roti, Chapati, Parotta, Idli, Dosa, Uthappam, Idiyappam &Appam.
• Chicken Kurma is a good accompaniment for rice dishes like Ghee Rice, Peas Pulao, Jeera Rice etc.,

NOTES :

• Pan-seared and slow-cooked Chicken in Kurma Masala yields more flavour filled Curry.
• Adding Yogurt is optional, but it gives a wonderful silky texture to the curry.
• Adjust the number of Green Chillies and the amount of Red Chilli Powder to suit your spice level.
• Adding Red Chilli Powder is purely optional.
• Soaking the Poppy Seeds prior to grinding yields a thick coconut paste.
• Do not over boil or cook on a high flame, once coconut paste is added to the Chicken Kurma. This can curdle the Curry and make it watery.
• Can splutter whole spices instead of grinding them along with Onion and Tomato.
• For a richly flavoured Chicken Kurma, saute the ingredients in Ghee.
• Add full-boiled eggs and convert this Kurma recipe into Egg Kurma.
• Add Vegetables and convert the same recipe into Vegetable Kurma for a complete Vegetarian treat.
• Can add Mutton/Beef instead of Chicken and adjust the cooking time accordingly.

ILANEER/KARIKKU DOSA - TENDER COCONUT DOSA

     Ilaneer Dosa/Karikku Dosa is a classic Indian Pancake prepared with Rice Batter ground along with Tender Coconut Shavings and Tender Coconut Water. What's special about this Ilaneer/Karikku Dosa is, it is thin, fluffy, light, lacy and quite flavourful.  And above all, there is no need to ferment the batter.
     Ilaneer Dosa/Karikku Dosa is yet another classic dish from Kerala Cuisine.  Addition of Coconut in various forms is a common scenario(ingredient) in God's Own Country.  What else would the natives of land with the name Keralam which is synonymous to Kera(Coconut) do?  Our love for the ingredient is quite ardent that it is common to find coconuts in most of our dishes. Maybe as Coconut, Coconut Milk, Tender Coconut or Coconut Oil. We even use Coconut shells as ladles, steamer cups, serving bowls etc.,
     Though it seems the ingredients added into the batter goes quite similar to the ones used for Vellayappam/Appam. The difference is that this Dosa batter uses Tender Coconut shavings which imparts a wonderful native flavour to the dish. Neer Dosa is yet another sibling of the same dosa from Karnataka, a watery kind of Dosa but they do not add Coconut/Tender Coconut in Neer Dosas. Also, the batter can be immediately used, no need for fermentation.  So these Ilaneer/Karikku Dosa does not smell soury too.  You just need to soak the Raw Rice for about 4-5 hours, grind the batter and immediately you can prepare Ilaneer/Karikku Dosa.  If you are planning to prepare the dish for Breakfast, you can soak the rice overnight.
     Ilaneer/Karikku Dosa goes well with Coconut Chutneys & Sambar.  My personal preference for the Dosa would be, curries like Stew, Kurmas etc., which goes hand in hand with Ilaneer/Karikku Dosa.  You can even serve Ilaneer/Karikku Dosa with powdered Jaggery/Brown Sugar or along with Sweetened Coconut Milk.

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Cuisine - Kerala(South Indian)
Course - Main Course
Recipe Type - Dosai, Pancake
Difficulty -Easy
Serves - 3-4
Author - SM   

Preparation Time - 15-20 Minutes
Soaking Time - 4-5 Hours/Overnight
Fermenting Time - Nil
Cooking Time - 20 - 30 Minutes

HOW TO COOK ILANEER/KARIKKU DOSAI - TENDER COCONUT DOSAI

INGREDIENTS :

For Ilaneer/Karikku Dosa Batter :

Raw Rice - 3 Cups
Tender Coconut Shavings - 2 Cups
Tender Coconut Water - 1 Cup
Sugar - 2 Tbspn
Salt - To Taste
Oil - To drizzle over Dosa

METHOD :

For Ilaneer/Karikku Dosa Batter :

• Clean, & Wash Raw Rice 2-3 times or until water runs clear.
• Soak the Raw Rice for about 4-5 Hours.
• Drain and grind the soaked rice in a Blender/Grinder.
• Grind the Rice along with Tender Coconut Shavings.
• Instead of Water add Tender Coconut Water while grinding the batter.
• Grind the ingredients into a smooth batter.
• The consistency of the Batter should be like that of a Dosa/Appam Batter.

How to Cook Ilaneer/Karikku Dosa:

• Heat the Dosa Griddle on a high flame and then lower the flame to low.
• Smear the Griddle with oil.
• Thoroughly mix the Ilaneer/Karikku Dosa Batter and pour one big ladle of batter over the Dosa Griddle.
• Spread the batter evenly around the Dosa Griddle.
• Keep the flame at low while cooking Ilaneer/Karikku Dosa.
• Drizzle few teaspoons of Oil over the Ilaneer/Karikku Dosa.
• Cover & Cook the Ilaneer/Karikku Dosa on a low flame until it is cooked.
• Carefully remove the thin, light and fluffy Ilaneer/Karikku Dosa from the griddle. (there is no need to flip and cook the Dosa).
• Serve Ilaneer/Karikku Dosa along with your choice of Chutney/Sambar.
• Ilaneer/Karikku Dosa goes well with Stew, Kurma, Chicken Curry, Mutton Curry etc.,

NOTES :

• Use good quality Raw Rice for Ilaneer/Karikku Dosa recipe.
• The ingredients should be finely ground into a thin batter.
• There is no need to ferment the Ilaneer/Karikku Dosa Batter,
• You can immediately prepare Ilaneer/Karikku Dosa once the batter is ready.
• If you have any leftover batter leave it in the refrigerator.
• Use the batter within two days.
• Cover & Cook the Ilaneer/Karikku Dosa on a low flame for white coloured Dosa.
• There is no need to flip and cook Ilaneer/Karikku Dosa.

VENDAKKA THORAN - OKRA STIR-FRY

     Vendakka Thoran/Okra Stir Fry is a simple Kerala style stir-fry cooked in a typical Nadan style. Though we make Thoran/Upperi, a kind of stir fry cooked with mild seasonings and grated Coconut with almost any kind of Vegetable, cooking Thoran with Okra/Lady's Finger is slightly tricky.  The reason is the slimy nature of Okra. According to me, Vendakka/Okra Thoran shouldn't be overcooked, slimy and should be green in Colour. So, I cook Vendakka/Okra Thoran briefly on a medium-high flame to retain its crunchiness, colour and nutrition.
      Whenever I cook this dish I always remember Sheela Chechi(my husband's cousin) who is always fancied by this Vendakka Thoran.  She always asks me how I cut Okra into thin strips and how I am able to retain the green colour in it?  Even during my recent visit to CBE, she asked me this question.  I was really impressed that she remembered the way I cook Vendakka Thoran even after all these years, though I have cooked this dish only once for her.  The trick is nothing but cooking the Vegetable briefly on a Medium-high flame and a pinch of Sugar.
     The speciality of the dish is that the seasonings are tempered in Coconut Oil which gives the typical 'Nadan Ruchi' the most phenomenal & authentic taste and flavour of 'Deivathinthe Swantham Nadu' - God's Own Country.  Thoran/Upperi is a predominant item served along with various other dishes in a Kerala Sadhya(Banquet).  Vendakka Thoran can be served as a side dish for both Roti & Rice.
      Various Vegetables like, Cabbage, Long Beans, French Beans, Snake Gourd, Bitter Gourd, Beetroot, Carrot, Spinach, Okra etc., can be cooked in this method. Even vegetables like Cabbage & Carrot, Beans & Carrot, or all three vegetables Cabbage, Carrot and Beans can be mixed together and prepared in the same way.

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Cuisine - Kerala (South India)
Course - Side Dish
Spice Level - Low- Moderate 
Difficulty - Easy
Serves - 4
Author - SM

Preparation Time - 5 -10 Minutes
Cooking Time - 5 - 7 Minutes

HOW TO COOK VENDAKKA THORAN - OKRA/LADY'S FINGER STIR FRY

 

VENDAKKA THORAN - OKRA STIR-FRY

INGREDIENTS :

Okra/Lady's Finger - 3 Cups
Shallots - 4-5 Nos.
Garlic - 1-2 Cloves
Green Chillies - 2 Nos.
Coconut - 2-3 Tbspn
Salt - To Taste
Sugar - a Pinch

For Seasoning :

Mustard Seeds - 1 Tspn
Curry Leaves - 1 Sprig
Cumin Seeds - a Pinch.
Coconut Oil - 1 Tbspn.

METHOD :

• Clean and wash the Okras through running water for at least 3-4 times.
• Allow it to drain through a Colander.
• Pat-dry the Okras with a clean kitchen towel.
• Chop off the tips and the ends from the Okra.
• Make 4-5 slits through the Okras lengthwise, then cut it into thin strips(1" length).
• Finely chop Shallots, Green Chillies & Garlic.
• Heat Oil in a pan, splutter Mustard Seeds and Curry leaves.
• Add finely chopped Shallots, Green Chillies, Garlic and saute until shallots turn translucent.
• Add a pinch of Cumin seeds followed with Okras cut into thin strips.
• Add Salt & a pinch of Sugar and give a quick stir.
• Add in the grated Coconut and mix well.
• Cook Vendakka Thoran/Okra Stir Fry for about 5 Minutes on a medium-high flame.
• Switch off the flame and allow it to sit in the pan for another 2-3 minutes.
• Serve Vendakka Thoran as a side dish for Rice or for Chapati.

NOTES :

• Cut Okras into the desired shape.
• Can add a pinch of Turmeric to the Vendakka/Okra Thoran, if preferred.
• Some do not add Onions & Garlic while cooking for a Sadhya.
• Adding Garlic & Cumin Seeds are truly optional.
• Cook Vendakka/Okra Thoran briefly on a medium-high flame to retain its crunchiness, colour and nutrition. 
• Letting it sit in the pan for about 2-3 minutes helps to get rid of any remaining sliminess in Okras. 
• Adding a pinch of Sugar to the Vendakka Thoran is purely optional, but will help you retain the green colour in the vegetable.
• I like Vendakka Thoran to be crunchy and slightly undercooked if you do not prefer it that way, cook for another 5 Minutes on a low flame.

 

TIPS & TRICKS:

To avoid slimy Okra/Lady's Finger:

POTATO & ANCHOVIES SAMBAL - SAMBAL KENTANG & IKAN BILIS

      This Potato & Anchovies(Ikan Bilis) Sambal recipe is an unfaltering Malay dish popular and prevalent throughout the region. A simple recipe with simpler ingredients which gives a total justification for a wholesome taste sense. Undoubtedly it hits the mark of the taste buds with a whole lot of sweet, sour & spicy combination which is loved by the locals.
      What makes this recipe tasty is the Sambal. Every household would have some tricks down their sleeves in making a perfect Sambal. When you have a perfect Sambal then these deep fried Potato Slices and Dried Anchovies instantly converts the taste and flavour of the dish to another level. Crunchy bits of Anchovies in midst of Potatoes along with Sambal gives a spicy kick, fiery taste and you totally succumb to the dish even at the first bite. If you are a lover of spicy dishes, then this Potato & Ikan Bilis Sambal is sure to sweep you off your feet. Serve it along with steamed Rice, Ketupat or Lemang.
      Get your Sambal Tumis ready, cut the Potatoes into the desired shape and deep fry them. Cook deep fried Potatoes in Sambal Tumis on a very low flame until each slice is well coated with the Sambal. Finally, add deep fried the Dried Anchovies and give a final stir. Deep Fried Anchovies totally elevates the taste of the dish by giving an awesome texture and flavour. It adds crunchiness to Potatoes & Anchovies Sambal.
 
For a detailed Recipe on, How to Cook SAMBAL TUMIS, Click here...


Cuisine - South-East Asian
Course - Side Dish
Spice Level - Medium-High
Difficulty - Medium
Serves - 4
Author - SM


Preparation Time - 5-10 Minutes
Cooking Time - 20 - 30 Minutes

 

HOW TO COOK POTATO & ANCHOVIES SAMBAL - SAMBAL KENTANG & IKAN BILIS

POTATO & ANCHOVIES SAMBAL - SAMBAL KENTANG & IKAN BILIS

INGREDIENTS:

For Sambal Tumis :

Dry Red Chillies - 10-12 Pieces.
Birds-eye Chillies - 5-7 Pieces
Shallots - 10 Nos.
Garlic - 3 Cloves.
Ginger 1" Piece - 1 No.
Galangal 1" Piece - 2 Nos.
Dry Shrimp Paste(Belacan) - 2 Tspns
Tamarind - 2 Tspn
Palm Sugar (Gula Melaka) - 3 Tspns
Salt - To Taste

 

For Potatoes & Anchovies Sambal :

Onions - 1 No.
Potatoes - 4-6 Nos.
Anchovies - 1/2 Cup
Oil - 1/2 Cup

METHOD :

For Deep fried Potatoes and Anchovies :

• Peel, Clean and Cut Potatoes into the desired shape. 
• Clean and soak Dried Anchovies in Water for about 10-15 Minutes.
• Drain the soaked Anchovies.  Dry it up on a paper towel briefly.
• Heat Oil in a wok and deep fry the Potato slices until browned and fully cooked.
• Remove it from Oil and line it up on a Paper Towel.
• In the remaining Oil, Deep fry the dried Anchovies.
• Fry until they turn crispy.
• Remove the fried Anchovies from the Oil and keep it aside.

For Sambal Tumis :

• Grind soaked Dry Chillies, Roasted Shrimp Paste, Birds Eye Chillies, Garlic Shallots, Ginger & Galangal into a smooth paste.
• Heat the remaining Oil(Used for deep frying Potatoes and Anchovies) in a wok, pour the Sambal paste into it.
  Saute the ground paste on a high flame for about 10 minutes or until all moisture evaporates.
• If the mix is a bit dry, add some more oil and saute them on a low flame for another 5-10 minutes or until oil separate from the mix.
• Add tamarind extract and boil it for another 5 minutes on a low flame.
• Add salt and palm sugar and mix well.
• At this stage, the sambal should be fragrant, if not saute it for some more time.
• Cook this on a low flame for about 12-15 Minutes.

For Potato & Anchovies Sambal :

 

• Add Deep fried Potatoes into the Sambal Tumis and cook on a low flame until each piece is well coated with the Sambal.
• Add finely chopped Onions rings to the above and give a quick stir.
• Finally, stir in the deep fried dried Anchovies and cook briefly.
• Immediately switch off the flame.
• Serve Potato & Anchovies Sambal hot with steamed Rice or any other dish of your choice.

NOTES :

• I have used the long- wrinkled variety of Dry Red Chilli, which is less spicy. To reduce the spiciness can snip off the soaked dry chillies into two and de-seed them.
• Blend the shallots coarsely.
• Grind the sambal paste with less water to avoid splattering while sauteing the Sambal in high flame.
• Adding the onions cut into rings gives a good texture to the sambal.
• Deep fry the Anchovies/Ikan Bilis first and set them aside.
• And finally, toss them into the Sambal to get the much-needed crispiness.
• Can use the same oil to saute the sambal.
• Anchovies and dry shrimp paste will add saltiness to the sambal, so add salt at the final stage if necessary.
• Can add Sugar instead of Palm Sugar.
• Serve Potatoes & Anchovies(Ikan Bilis) Sambal hot or at room temperature.
  

ONION PAKODA

     Onion Pakoda, one of my favourite fried snack ever, a famous Indian Street Food.  Deep Fried Crispy and Crunchy snack prepared with a wonderful combination of Onions and Gram Flour.  It has different names such as Pakora, Pakodi, Fakkura, Bhajiya, Bhajji or Ponako. A call for a snack or a rainy evening instantly reminds me of Hot deep-fried snacks, but my all time favourite in the long list of snacks is always Onion Pakoda.
     My Dad used to buy Onion Pakodas from a Street Vendor.  It happened only for an instance or two. The reason is my Mother who menace street food, gives elaborate lectures about cleanliness, hygiene etc., & etc., and we end up even not to think about eating outside. If at all an occasion arises when we eat at a restaurant while we travel or during weddings, she is so particular not to allow us to eat Coconut Chutneys served along with Dosa or Idli. She even goes to the extent of saying that they would have added Tap Water to it. As a mother, I can very well understand her worries and concern, but she was too sceptical to things those days. Eating food apart from home cooked was never a thought at home until me and my brother grew up and we had our own preferences.  Even to date, I see my Dad buy Pakodas from Sweet shops, recently he had bought Mundhiri Pakoda from Nellai Lala Sweets(suggested by my SIL Nithya) for me, when I was home.  It was the first time I tasted it and I really fell for it.
     When I started cooking during my College days, Onion Pakoda was one of the most frequented snacks at home.  I & my brother would venture on deep fried snacks like Masal Bonda, Samosa, Vadai, Aloo Tikki etc.,  I perfected the recipe with quite a lot of variations since the beginning.  This particular recipe which I finally stuck to was from my husband's friend, Govindraj's Mother.  She always prepares these Onion Pakoda when we visit her and I felt the texture was quite satisfying.  Her recipe calls for adding a bit of All-purpose Flour and Rice Flour along with Gram Flour and the trick to get crispy Onion Pakodas is mixing the Onions with Butter/hot Oil and Salt.
     Serve these Garma Garam(hot) Onion Pakodas along with a Hot cup of Coffee/Tea.


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Cuisine - Indian
Recipe Type - Snacks
Spice Level  - Low
Difficulty - Easy
Serves - 3-4
Author - SM

Preparation Time - 5-10 Minutes.
Cooking Time - 15-20 Minutes.

HOW TO COOK ONION PAKODA

ONION PAKODA

INGREDIENTS :

Gram Flour - 1/2 Cup
Rice Flour - 2-3 Tbspn
All Purpose Flour - 2-3 Tbspn
Onions - 4 Nos.
Green Chillies - 2-3 Nos.
Curry Leaves - a Sprig
Ginger - a small Piece
Fennel Seeds - 1/2 Tspn
Coriander Leaves - Few
Butter - 1 Tspn
Salt - To Taste

For Deep Frying :

Vegetable Oil

METHOD :

• Peel, Clean and Slice Onions into thin slices.
• Separate the Onion Slices.
• Add finely chopped Green Chillies, Ginger, Curry Leaves, Coriander Leaves and Fennel Seeds.
• Add Butter and Salt along with the above ingredients and mix well, until each strand of Onion is well coated with Butter.
• Now add Gram Flour, Rice Flour and All-purpose Flour to the above and mix well.
• Sprinkle a little bit of water and mix the ingredients with your hand.
• Meanwhile heat Oil in a Deep Pan.
• Once the Oil fumes, lower the flame.
• Now gently add small chunks of Onion-Flour Mix into the hot oil.
• Deep fry the Onion Pakodas until it turns into golden brown in colour.
• While deep frying the Onion Pakodas, flip it once or twice in the hot oil.
• Fry until it is evenly cooked on all sides.
• Remove the Onion Pakodas from the Oil with a slotted Spoon.
• Line the Onion Pakoda on a Paper Towel, to remove any excess Oil from the Pakodas.
• Serve Onion Pakodas hot with any Chutney, Sauce/Ketchup or Dip of your choice.
• Goes well with a cup of Hot Coffee/Tea.

NOTES :

• Cut Onions into thin slices and separate the strands.
• Can avoid adding Green Chillies, instead add 1/2 Tspn of Red Chilli Powder.
• When the fresh ingredients are mixed along with Butter and Salt, it tends to ooze out some water.
• So I usually do not add any water while mixing the ingredients with Flour.
• Add Water, only if necessary.
• If you are not adding Butter and Salt to the ingredients, mix all the ingredients sprinkling a little bit of water and finally pour about 1-2 Tbpsn of HOT OIL to the Onion- Flour mix.
• These two methods, help you to yield crispy and crunchy Onion Pakodas.